Chapter III.—Christ was truly born,
and died.

For there is but One that became incarnate, and that
neither the Father nor the Paraclete, but the Son only, [who became so]
not in appearance or imagination, but in reality. For “the Word
became flesh.”13171317John i. 14. For “Wisdom builded
for herself a house.”13181318Prov. ix. 1. And God
the Word was born as man, with a body, of the Virgin, without any
intercourse of man. For [it is written], “A virgin shall conceive
in her womb, and bring forth a son.”13191319Isa. vii. 14. He was then truly born, truly grew up, truly ate and drank, was
truly crucified, and died, and rose again. He who believes these things,
as they really were,
117
and as they really took place, is
blessed. He who believeth them not is no less accursed than those who
crucified the Lord. For the prince of this world rejoiceth when any one
denies the cross, since he knows that the confession of the cross is his
own destruction. For that is the trophy which has been raised up against
his power, which when he sees, he shudders, and when he hears of, is
afraid.